Aspects of hepatic cholesterol metabolism in normal and dystrophic chicken embryos

Several aspects of hepatic cholesterol metabolism have been studied in normal and dystrophic chicken embryos (12 days in ovo). Dystrophic embryo livers weigh the same and have the same total protein content as their normal counterparts. However, the total cholesterol content of dystrophic embryo livers is significantly decreased compared with the content of normal embryo livers. This decrease in total cholesterol is due mainly to a large decrease in the amount of cholesterol esters, although the free cholesterol content is also decreased. The proportions of free cholesterol and cholesterol esters are 43 and 57%, respectively, in normal embryo livers, but this proportion is essentially reversed in dystrophic embryo livers (i.e., 56 and 44%). The decreased total cholesterol content of dystrophic embryo livers is not apparently due to a decrease in the rate of free cholesterol de novo biosynthesis or to a decrease in the rate of free cholesterol esterification. However, the decrease in cholesterol ester content may be due to an increase in the rate of its hydrolysis, as a result of increased levels of sterol ester hydrolase in dystrophic livers. These data are consistent with the proposal that membranes in dystrophic tissues are altered as a result of altered cholesterol metabolism and utilization.